Town Clerk To Leave Post For Position In Glastonbury

The Enfield Resident, Who Begins Her New Job In May, Worked To Computerize Land Records In Vernon.

April 24, 2003|By LEE FOSTER; Courant Staff Writer

VERNON — Town Clerk Joyce Mascena is leaving town hall in May to become town clerk in Glastonbury.

``I have enjoyed my time in the town of Vernon. I love my staff and I love what I do. But it's a great opportunity. I'd be crazy not to take it,'' Mascena said Wednesday.

Since being hired in 1998, Mascena has spearheaded the modernization of record-keeping systems in the clerk's office. Land records back to 1984, originally handwritten, are now in a computer database, as are other records.

``I'm proudest of my inroads with technology,'' she said.

She also has succeeded in getting grants to preserve historic documents. The three oldest official maps of the town have been restored and the original 1726 deed that created Rockville as a separate town from Bolton is preserved and stored in a vault at town hall. A reproduction of the deed is on display at the Vernon Historical Society.

Mascena was instrumental in nearly tripling storage capabilities at town hall by overseeing improvements to basement vaults and the reduction of large land record books into a smaller format.

``Joyce was a wonderful town clerk for Vernon. I wish her the best of luck in Glastonbury,'' Mayor Diane Wheelock said Wednesday.

Glastonbury conducted a nationwide search for a clerk to replace Edward Friedeberg, who retired in January after 32 years. After interviewing numerous candidates, Mascena seemed to be a good fit for the job, Glastonbury Town Manager Richard J. Johnson said Wednesday.

``She had a good background in Enfield and Vernon, a good feel for municipal government,'' Johnson said. ``When we talked to folks about Joyce, everyone was pleased with her experience. We look forward to having her join us.''

Mascena had been deputy town clerk in Enfield before being hired in Vernon. She lives in Enfield with her two teenage sons.

Mascena's interest in technology will fit well with Glastonbury's objectives, he said. The clerk's office has a state of the art document scanning system that Friedeberg was instrumental in installing.

One thing Mascena said she wouldn't miss about the Vernon job is attending every town council meeting. In Vernon, unlike Glastonbury and many other municipalities, the town clerk calls the roll and acts as parliamentarian for council meetings.

Her last day in Vernon will be May 9. Mascena will start in Glastonbury on May 12.